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Course Outline

DEV703 International Development Project A

Course Coordinator:Harriot Beazley (hbeazley@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society

2024Session 6

UniSC Sunshine Coast

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course allows you to design and test a substantial project or field-based work. You will use your knowledge and skills learnt in the program and apply these in a field of interest to you. The course provides you with the opportunity to work more closely with a staff member who has the expertise to supervise your chosen topic and you may be able to work overseas in a developing country context in conjunction with a professional research team, agency or community group.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Independent Study/Research – Regular meetings with a supervisor, and potentially other industry practitioners depending on the work situation, to be determined between the supervisor and the student 3hrs Week 1 8 times

Course Topics

  • Overview of Internship Organisation or Research Focus
  • Overview of Designated Tasks / terms of Reference (TOR) or Research Plan
  • Literature Review on chosen focus 

What level is this course?

700 Level (Specialised)

Demonstrating a specialised body of knowledge and set of skills for professional practice or further learning. Advanced application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts.

What is the unit value of this course?

24 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Demonstrate mastery of development theories and practice, and apply this to a specific situation. Knowledgeable
2 Have a mastery of appropriate professional and field development practitioner conduct with partner organisations and local communities in different cultural contexts. Empowered
3 Independently plan and design a task and appropriate methodological design to complete the task in ways that are of benefit to society. Engaged
Sustainability-focussed
4 Synthesise deep, complex information about international development, including the institutions and practices involved; assess ethical implications of international development frameworks. Creative and critical thinker
Ethical
5 Conduct research and thinking about social issues that make considered and ethical contributions to the future of society. Ethical
Engaged

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

SCS725 and enrolled in Program AR700

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

It is assumed that you have an understanding of designing a research project and research methods, through the pre-requisite SCS725, and that you will have the basic understanding of international development concepts.

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Timely and detailed feedback is provided for each assessment. Feedback is provided both within text and general comments to build scholarly skills. Students are able to seek feedback through face-to-face discussion with the course coordinator. Tutorials will include extended discussion and review of the assessment task requirements and scope.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Report Individual 30% 
2000 words
 Week 3 Online Submission
All 2 Written Piece Individual 30% 
2000 words
 Week 6 Online Submission
All 3 Literature Review (or component) Individual 40% 
3000 words
 Refer to Format Online Submission
All 4 Code of Conduct Individual 0% 
n/a
 Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) To be Negotiated
All - Assessment Task 1:Project proposal and Outline
Goal: 
You will develop a project proposal on the topic and an outline of your proposed research design to achieve this.
Product: Report
Format: 
You should submit a project proposal with a title, project task, synopsis of the background topic, and proposed methodological design by which you will complete your task. You should cite a minimum of 8 references that justify your project design. You may consult with your supervisor as to the appropriate topic in advance of submitting this proposal.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Ability to propose a manageable task within the time constraints of the course.
 1 3
2 
Appropriateness of the methodology that will be followed.
 1 3 4
3 
Justification of the project aim and methodology in light of the cited literature.
 1 3 4
4 
Clarity of thinking and expression.
 1 2 3 4
All - Assessment Task 2:Site visit and initial assessment of project feasibility
Goal: 
You will finalise the project findings and present this in an appropriate report format.
Product: Written Piece
Format: 
You will submit a report on the findings of your visit or project feasibility assessment. You will need to visit a workplace or community or conduct a pilot project in which you record your observations on the degree to which you can complete your international development project proposal (from task 1) and other observations that make you rethink the key challenges you observe. You must submit the report in the format provided by your supervisor and include a table of comments, key findings, the observations you recorded, and the implications of your proposed research. It will indicate an assessment of your preliminary progress and findings and implications for the subsequent weeks.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Degree of knowledge and thinking about the site visit or project feasibility assessment.
 1 2
2 
Quality of critical thinking.
 2 3
3 
Well-organised synthesis of report materials in ways that support the chosen topic.
 1 2 3 4
4 
Well-expressed, well-structured assessment task presented in written form.
 1 2 3 4
All - Assessment Task 3:Literature review
Goal: 
This task is designed to provide you with an introduction to the scholarship of others who have worked on a similar topic.
Product: Literature Review (or component)
Format: 
In week 13 (Semester based ) or Week 8 (Session based) you will submit a detailed literature review about the academic scholarship that provides a background to your project. You need to show how and why this literature is relevant to your planned international development project. You will receive written feedback about your work that will help you with completing your international development project, and you will be required to consult with your supervisor about this feedback and other guidelines for reading and writing the review.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Evidence of knowledge on the chosen topic.
 1 4 5
2 
Evidence of effective ability to apply knowledge to the project under consideration.
 1 4
3 
Quality of work and thinking.
 1 4
All - Assessment Task 4:Code of Conduct
Goal: 
This task enables you to become familiar with the code of conduct for your discipline and work within its guidelines during a work integrated learning (WIL) experience
Product: Code of Conduct
Format: 
During your WIL experience you are required to complete the required hours of work experience.To be eligible to pass, you are required to complete the internship satisfactorily according to the criteria below. 

See Canvas for your discipline specific Code of Conduct.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Behaviour that is in accordance with the discipline code of conduct.
 2
2 
Adherence to the discipline code of conduct.
 2
3 
Completion of the required hours.
 2

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

Student need to pay for additional costs- travel etc

How are risks managed in this course?

Risk assessments have been performed for all field activities and low to moderate levels of health and safety risk exists. Moderate risks may include working in an Australian bush setting, working with people, working outside normal office hours for example. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation.  It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline.  This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person.  You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin.  This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:

The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%
The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct.

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: 
- 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

SafeUniSC

UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.

The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.

Study help

For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.

If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.

Wellbeing Services

Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.

AccessAbility Services

Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
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